Parents win victory in Elvian School site planning battle

The West Reading Education Network want the site for a new free secondary school and the group joined forces with Reading Borough Council and Reading West MP Alok Sharma to oppose plans to build houses on the site

Campaigners want to use the former Elvian School site in Southcote for a new free school

Campaigners battling for a new secondary school on the old Elvian School site have won a resounding victory.

Construction giant Taylor Wimpey has lost its appeal against Reading Borough Council’s refusal to allow it to build 193 houses on the former school site in Bath Road, Southcote.

The West Reading Education Network (WREN) want the site for a new free secondary school and the group joined forces with Reading Borough Council and Reading West MP Alok Sharma to oppose the appeal.

Mischa Tytel, director of WREN, said he was “ecstatic” at the news and would be contacting the Education Funding Agency at once hoping to persuade it to buy the site.

He went on: “The planning inspector has recognised that demand for secondary education provision in central West Reading will only grow, as agreed by WREN, RBC and Taylor Wimpey during the Public Inquiry.

“We’re very happy wisdom and reasonableness have won through. Now it’s been agreed that this is the right place for a school, we’re going to work very hard with our education partners, CfBT Schools Trust, to try to get this site for our school.

“From day one, we were bowled over by the tremendous support from the local community and without this, we wouldn’t be where we are today, so we want to thank everyone who has given their time or written to the planning inspector, or spread the word about this campaign.

“This is a triumph for the community”.

Planning inspector Phil Grainger, in dismissing the appeal, described the Taylor Wimpey scheme as being “of poor quality design that does not constitute sustainable development and would detract from the character and appearance of the locality”.

He said until there was greater clarity on the scale of secondary school provision required in the area, it would be inappropriate to allow residential development on the school site.

Councillor John Ennis, lead councillor for education and a Southcote councillor said: “The Inspector accepted the council’s argument that to allow all this site to be used for housing would risk there not being anywhere in Central West Reading where the new secondary school that looks to be necessary could be built, and that our planning policies were right to insist on education use on the site,

“The council’s education officers put a great deal of work into the inquiry, and I spoke at it myself, as we were determined to stop this site being lost to the education system.

“Nor were we alone. WREN made it very clear that this is the only site they believe will meet their vision for a new school, and over 700 local residents wrote to the Inquiry backing their call, whereas Taylor Wimpey did not seek public support for their plans and had none.

“This is a great day for West Reading, and I hope the Education Funding Agency now agree quickly to open negotiations with the landowner for the land needed for a new school to serve local families.”

Reading West MP Alok Sharma said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome this common-sense decision and I congratulate WREN and everyone locally and nationally who has supported our efforts to see the former Elvian school site used for education.

“Having now worked closely with the WREN team for many months I just want to reiterate how brilliant they all are and their enthusiasm, vision and professionalism has been unfaltering throughout, as they seek to put together a school providing outstanding education for our local Reading children.

“I very much hope that as a result of this decision the owners of the former Elvian school site will now sit down to a meaningful discussion with WREN and the team about the future use of the site.”